Reviews
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Book Review • Stargazing
Christine hears rumors that Moon, who’s new in town, is the kind of kid who beats people up for fun. But Moon and her mom come to live with Christine’s family, and the two kids become best friends. Moon even shares a big secret with Christine.
Stargazing is a graphic novel based on author Jen Wang’s experiences as a child. The story is about the power of friendship and how people are able to change.
Courtesy of Time for Kids
Book Review • Astronuts
In AstroNuts, the Earth has been trashed by humans for millennia. Four animals set out from Mount Rushmore, the headquarters of NNASA (Not-NASA). Their mission is to find a new planet fit for human life. Eventually, they discover one: Plant Planet. The narrator of this fun book is the Earth.
The story’s theme is simple: Don’t harm the planet. Readers who love fantasy and sci-fi will enjoy AstroNuts.
Courtesy of Time for Kids
Book Review • Charlie Thorne & the Last Equation
The CIA is on a quest to find an equation called Pandora, which could destroy the world if the wrong people get it. For help, they turn to Charlie, a 12-year-old girl who’s as smart as Albert Einstein. Charlie doesn’t have a lot of time to solve the world’s problems — but she’s the only one who can do it.
People who like action-packed mysteries with an element of adventure will enjoy reading this suspenseful book.
Courtesy of Time for Kids
Book Review • The Ice Cream Machine
The Ice Cream Machine is no ordinary tale. It has six stories rolled into one flavorful book. All them have the same title, but each has a different plot revolving around ice cream.
One ice-cream story focuses on a boy and his robot in the distant future. Another is about a father and daughter who invent an ice-cream machine. My favorite story in the book centers on two sisters, Pam and Penelope, who try to enter an ice-cream–eating contest. The six stories are accompanied by black-and-white illustrations from six different artists.
The Ice Cream Machine is inventive and fun. Its author, Adam Rubin, has a lot of experience when it comes to writing about food. His most famous children’s book is Dragons Love Tacos. It was a No. 1 New York Times best-seller. “I like to write about food because it’s universally beloved by people of all different cultures,” Rubin says. “It’s something we can all relate to.”
Rubin hopes The Ice Cream Machine inspires kids to write. Its jacket turns into an envelope in which readers can send him their stories. Rubin says writers should write about things they like. “If you’re trying to write something that someone else likes, you might not get it right. Then no one’s happy,” he says. “But if you focus on writing about something that you like, then it’s fun. When it makes you happy, your writing will bring joy.”
I recommend The Ice Cream Machine to anyone who likes creative storytelling. The book goes down just like ice cream: smooth, enjoyable, and with a pleasant aftertaste.
As for Rubin’s favorite flavor of ice cream? “Chocolate chip,” he says. (Don’t tell him, but the best flavor is actually birthday cake!)
Courtesy of Time for Kids
Book Interview • Tales of Ancient Worlds
Shipwrecks. Buried treasure. The discovery of King Tut’s tomb. These are some of the subjects Stefan Milosavljevich explores in Tales of Ancient Worlds: Adventures in Archaeology, out in April. He spoke with TFK Kid Reporter David Murtagh.
For kids who might not have studied archaeology in school, what is it?
Archaeology is the study of all the stuff we leave behind. If we’re trying to reconstruct history, we have two sources of information. One is the stuff that people wrote down. The other is all the stuff we make, or drop, even our own bodies, or the waste we get rid of. That’s what archaeologists study.
This book covers many historical periods. What’s your favorite?
I do really love the Stone Age. I think it’s so interesting to go back to our earliest time.
What inspired you to write this book?
I wanted to share the biggest passion in my life. When I was your age, I was surrounded by history. You know King John from Robin Hood? He was buried in my hometown. Every week, I would go and see dead King John. Those sorts of things just always connected me with history. There are so many great stories I want to share.
Have technological and scientific advances changed how archaeologists work?
Technology has changed archaeology so much. Now archaeologists can get a sample of dirt and test it for human DNA. When we test, say, a tooth for human DNA, we actually destroy the tooth. That was our one shot at trying to understand the past. But with dirt, there’s loads of it. We could destroy it all day! It’s going to give us much more flexibility to study the past. By the time you’re my age, David, they’ll be testing everything for DNA. It’s going to tell us so much.
What advice do you have for someone interested in archaeology?
Stay curious and keep your eyes open for opportunities in your local area. There are lots of ways you can help with excavations or preserving things in museums.
Writing a book is tough. What was the silver lining for you?
I tried to absolutely cram the book with little nuggets of information from history. When people like you read and enjoy the book, that’s the silver lining.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Courtesy of Time for Kids
Book Review • Omar Rising
Omar Rising, by Aisha Saeed, tells the story of the son of a servant in Pakistan. Omar is excited that he has earned a scholarship to an elite boarding school. But when he gets there, he discovers that his scholarship has some major strings attached.
To stay at the school, Omar must do chores and get better grades than the wealthy students. And he’s not allowed to participate in extracurricular activities. When his future at the school seems dim, he and his friends work hard to fight a corrupt system and create justice for all.
For Saeed, optimism is an important theme in Omar Rising. “You should be stubbornly optimistic,” she told TFK Reporter Gabri Blankson. “Even if it seems like you have every reason to give up, don’t give up!”
Courtesy of Time for Kids
Book Review • Black Boy Joy
The short stories in Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia, celebrate the pleasures of Black childhood. The book starts with the tale of a kid who goes into the Between, where he catches stories and brings them back to our troubled world. There are also stories about triumphs, competitions, and getting dressed for your first day of school. Most are short, with simple plots. You don’t have to read a giant book all in one go. You can take it a little at a time. People who enjoy bite-size stories of happiness will like this collection.
Courtesy of Time for Kids
Book Review • Living with Viola by Rosena Fung
In Living with Viola, Livy is going through a lot. She’s having trouble fitting in at her new school. She’s having trouble living up to her parents’ high expectations. And there’s Viola, a shadowy version of Livy that follows her everywhere, telling her she’s not good enough. Viola causes Livy self-doubt and even panic attacks.
Author Rosena Fung created Viola to give a voice to Livy’s anxiety. Fung was inspired by her own experiences. “When I have anxiety, I hear my own voice in my head, telling me bad things,” she told TFK. “It follows me everywhere I go.”
Livy learns to manage her anxiety using strategies like breathing exercises and cooking. “Not every coping strategy will work for everyone,” Fung says. “But I want kids to know that help is out there.”
Courtesy of Time for Kids
Book Review • Cuba in My Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas
Cuba in My Pocket follows 12-year-old Cumba from Cuba to Florida in the 1960s. After being sent to a new country by himself, Cumba must find his footing in unfamiliar surroundings. Over time, he learns how to trust others and overcomes challenges.
Author Adrianna Cuevas based the story on her dad’s experience. Like Cumba, he came to the United States at a young age. Cuevas told TFK that writing the book taught her “the power of stories to preserve things that are important to you.”
For Cuevas, hope is an important theme in Cuba in My Pocket. “To me, hope means that I know that I’m going to be okay, regardless of the circumstances around me,” she says.
Courtesy of Time for Kids